Cotton-press.



No- 734,695. PATENTBD JULY 28, 1903.

J. T. FULLER.

COTTON PRESS.

APPLICATION rum) MAY 31, 1901.

no MODEL. 4 sums-swam 1.

IN VE N T 0R Jmzaa WITNESSES:

PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

I No 7s4,s95.-

- *J. T. FULLER.

G OTTON PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

"No 734, 95. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

LE. FULLER.

COTTON PRESS.

APPLICATION nLn'n MAY 21, 1901.

no MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

F'IG 3 No. 734,695. v PATENTBD JULY 28, 1 903.,

. J- T. FULLER.-

COTTON PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1901.

H0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET L.

//v VENTOI? @7267 [filler savages 5';

JAMES T. FULLER, E

' NITED res" iatented J 'uly 28, 1903;

-A'EENT FFICE.

cotton-Passe.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 734,695, dated July 28, 1903 Application filetl 21, 190i. Serial No. 61,217. (No model.

To alliuhom, it tcty concern:

Be it known thatI, J AMES 1. FULLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Calvert, in the county of Robertson and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Baling-Presses, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact de.

2o therewith, means by whichone of said parts is moved or actuated relatively tothe other, and devicesffor retaining the formed bale under compression. g

The various features constituting my invention are hereinafter described. and specifically pointedoutin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional ole; 1

j e, and the rotation of the shaft is controlled vation of a press embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a planview of the same with parts broken out. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, showing a baleholder lowered and free to swing from under the feedingand pressing device. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a bale-holder. 5 Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the devices for actuating the locking mechanism for the V retainer. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the rack and pinion for actuating the locking mechanism, Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of part 0 of the-carrier and retainer. Fig. Sisa sectional elevation of part of the mechanism for locking the retainer to the carrier.

a sectional elevation of part of the retainer and the actuating-arm of the carrier, and Fig.

10 is a sectionalelevation of the clamping hooks for the retainer.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in all the views.

selected for the purpose of description and hereinafter more fully described. ers F, by which the cotton or other material Fig. 9'is.

For the sake of clearness and brevity I have illustration a preferred form of press which I have constructed and successfully tested, and I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular forms and details of construction herein illustrated, since many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention. This preferred form of press is mounted on a base A. A ring B and a head 13 are supported above the base by the standards O and are held in place by bolts 0, which extend upwardly from the base A through the standards 0. The ring 13 is formed with an annular hearing or track b,upon which is supported a carrier D. In the form of press shown the compressing devices employed are a plurality of conical rollers, which are journaled in a carrier D, and the relative movement of the compressing devices and .the bale-support is obtained by revolving or rotating the carrier D by means of a crown-gear d, secured to the under surface of the carrier D, and with which meshes a pinion E, carried by the drivingor power shaft 6, so that as the shaft 9 is revolved the carrier D is also revolved on its bearings. The driving-pulley e is carried by the shaft byany suitable mechanism, such as a clutch j 6 A pump E of any approved construction, provided with fast and loose pulleys c3 and preferably mounted on the base A, is belted to the pulley e on the driving-shaft c. This pump operates the hydraulic mechanism The rollis fed into the press from the feed-hopper G, are conical in shape and are arranged radially in an inclined position, so that their under or working surfaces lie in a horizontal plane over the bale-support. rollers are journaled in and are entirely sup These feedingported in the carrier D, which is provided with bearings for the shaftsfof the rollers. The rollers F extend closely toward a common center and are truncated, so' that their apices shall be slightly blunt. By supporting the rollers F entirely a their outer ends I avoid the necessity of' a positive hearing at their common center, and

consequently no lubrication is required at that point. By this construction, also, a clear and unobstructed space is secured above the rollers, and as the rollers may be constructed with imperforate endsthat is, without the axial opening which would be required if they were mounted on shafts extending through their points-none of the oil or other lubricants used on the outer bearings of the press can possibly reach the cotton or other material being operated upon.

For the purpose of positively rotating the feed-rollers F on their axes while they are traveling around their common center each roller carries on a shaftf, projecting therefrom, a pinion f which meshes with a fixed circular rack K, carried on brackets 7c, se cured to the standards 0 between the latter and the ring B. As the rollers are'carried around by the revolving carrier the pinion f will engage'with the rack and turn the rollers axially. Below what I have called the working surfaces of the feed-rollers (and I employ this term to designate those portions of the rollers by which the feeding and press ing operations are performed) is a bale-holder L, consisting of the rings Z Z, connected with each other by staves Z. The rings Z Z are made in sections, connected by a hinge Z and a fastening device Z Fig. 2. The rings Z Z are provided with lugs Z Z", apertured to receive the pins m on the yoke or crane M, which is rotatively carried by the standard 0. As shown, three bale-holders L are supported by the yoke M, any one of which may be swung into position under the rollers, and the construction illustrated permits any holder to be raised or lowered on the pins on to and from its operative position independently of the yoke or anyof the other holders.

A bale-base n is arranged within the baleholder L and supports the lower end of the bale during and after its formation. The bale-base rests upon a plunger n, which is preferably actuated by hydraulic pressure. When a plurality of bale-holders are employed, I prefer to construct the plunger and bale-base in separable parts, as shown, and to provide a bale-base for each holder, forming the, lower ring Z of each chamber with an inwardly-extending flange Z upon which the bale-base may rest, and thus form a bottom for the bale-holder, obviating the necessity of other devices at that point for retaining the cotton or other material in the holder after the bale is formed. This preferred construction is hereinafter referred to by me in describing the operation of the press. Two channels n crossing each other at right angles, are usually formed on the upper surfaces of the bale-base n, and the latter may be provided with a central aperture to permit the insertion of the bale-ties. The lower surface of the bale-base n is formed with a boss or projection which fits into a corresponding reces's on the upper surface of the plunger, and when the bale-holder is opened to remove the halo the bale-base n is supported and held in place by the spring-arm W, Figs. 1 and 2. The plunger 72 extends into the cylinder 0 and works through a piston P, upon which the lower ring Z of the bale-holder seats when the piston rises The piston P also extends into the cylinder 0 and is actuated by the pressure therein,which may be controlled in any suitable manner. A packing-ring 0 prevents leakage around the plunger and the piston.

Referring to Fig. 1, when pressure is admitted to the cylinder 0 by any suitable governing device, such as a valve controlled by a hand-lever 0, the plunger and piston are carried up together until the bale-holder L is in operative position immediately under but not in contact with the surface of the rollers. At this point its movement is arrested by stops consisting of bolts 19, which are secured in lugs p on the piston P and pass through apertures in the flange of the cylinder 0 and in the base A. The upward movement of the plunger, however, is not arrested, but continues until the upper surface of the bale-' base n contacts with the working surfaces of the feed-rollers F.

For the purpose of preventing longitudinal expansion of the formed halo and confining it in the bale-holder, so that it may be swung from under the compressing mechanism and permanently tied without loss of density, I have devised entirely novel meohanism,which differs from anything heretofore employed for that purpose. This mechanism comprises as an essential feature a retainer, which is secured to the compressing mechanism during the formation of the bale, so as to have no movement relatively to the compressing mechanism while the bale is being formed and which is locked to the bale holder or support after the bale is formed, so as to confine the formed bale between the bale base orsupport and the retainer and hold it against longitudinal expansion during the tying operation, the bale-base forming an abutment for one end of the bale while the retainer is rigidly connected with the balebase by means of the rings and staves of the bale-holder and the locking means to be presently described, which are thrown into engagement with the retainer and hold it firmly on the bale-holder when the bale is formed. Thus, in effect, the retainer is locked or clamped to the bale-base, the compressed bale being confined between them. The retainer consists of a frame Q, which carries arms or projections 1, extending inwardly toward the center of the bale-holder or bale-base. The arms I are preferably formed separately from the frame Q and are securely bolted thereto, and their outer ends are beveled to fit corresponding recessed inclines D on the carrier D, Fig. 7, so that when the retainer is lifted into position, as will be presently described, it will be guided by said inclines D and will be firmly and accurately positioned on the under side of the carrier D. Preferably, as-

will act as strippers for the rollers and prevent the material being operated upon from adhering thereto. The frame Q fits loosely over the ring Z of a the bale-holder and in its normal positionihat is, when not cooperating with the compressing mechanism to form a bale-rests on antifriction-rollers Z which are preferably provided to support it. The frame Q is held loosely on the ringl by-hooks R, which project over a flange Q, formed on the frame. These hooks operate automatically to engage the flange Q when the retainer is placed in position over the ring Z, being pivoted to the weighted bell-crank levers R fulcrumed at R on the staves Z of the baleholder. When the retainer is being placed in position, the flange Q will engage the hooks R and swing them outwardly, permitting-the retainer to descend until it rests on the rollers Z when the flange having passed the hooks the latter will swing in above the top of the flange. The'hooks do not fit the flange Q closely enough to prevent the relative rotation of the retainer and the baleholder nor tightly enough to prevent a slight l upward movement of the retainer on the baleholder when the former is lifted from the rollers Z and locked to the compressing mechanism. 1

The upper edge of the frame Q is formed I with a flange Q provided with the cut'out portions Qfiwhich when the retainer is car-' ried up by the bale-holder permit the intervening portions of the flange to fit close against the lower end of the hopper, so as to form a continuous flaring lower end for the hopper extending to the lower surfaces of the rollers.

l A ring S is fitted within the carrier D just below the rollers F and is carried by lugs projecting from the carrier. on said ring,and the edges thereof are beveled. The lugs S are so spaced that when the retainer is lifted with the bale-holder and the ring S is slightly rotated the bevels on the lugs S will engagecorresponding bevels on lugs Q secured to the frame Q. The ring S is provided with an arm S in which is formed the slot S Figs. 4 and 5. A stud S on the arm S engages with the slot S The arm S is carried by a shaft 8, journaled in.

the carrier D, and to the lower end of the shaft is secured a mutilated pinion S Fig. 6, which engageswith one or the other of the racks T T, located in diiferent horizontal planes depending upon the position of the racks which are carried by the block T mounted to slide vertically in bearings T on the bracket T attached to thering B. A le- Ver U, pivotally supported at II on the bracket 1 Lugs S are formed.

to the base A, and its opposite end lies in the path of the lug P, formed on the piston P. A spring-pressed pin T engages the lower end of the block T when the latter is raised and engages a notch T on said block when the block is lowered. The tension of the spring which actuates the pin T is sufficient to cause the pin to hold the block T steadily in its lower position and to cause said pin to oppose some resistance to the upward movement of. the block, but it is not sufficient to cause the pin to resist the weight of the parts when the lever U is not supported by the piston. Hence when the piston is moved up- 'wardly to lift the bale-holder the lever U will compress the spring U without immediately shifting the block T but as the movement of the lever continues and the pressure of the spring U increases the resistance which the spring-pressed pin T exerts to the movement will be overcome and the block T will be instantly shifted to carry the rack T into position to engage the pinion S and when the piston is lowered the weight of the parts will carry the block T downwardly to bring the rack T into position to engage said pinion.

The following is the operation of the press which I have now described: The press having been started to rotate the carrier D, one

of the bale-holders, with the retainer Q resting on its upper end, is swung in under the compressing mechanism, and the catch V, Figs. 1 and 2, which is carried by the counter-weighted shaft V, controlled by a treadle V is operated to engage a notch on the under surface of the yoke M and lockthe baleholder in position. Pressure is then admitted to the cylinder 0 by operating the valvelever 0. The bale-support N and the piston P are thereby forced upwardly and the piston P engages the bottom of the bale-holder L, which guided by the rod m is carried up until its motion is arrested by the stops p. In its upward movement the lug P on the piston P will engage the lever U thereby lifting the block T to carry the rack T into position for engagement with the pinion S Therotation of the carrier will cause the pinion S to engage with the rack T, and the former, with its shaft 5, will be turned to swing the crank-arm S and impart a slight rotary movement to the ring S. This will cause the bevels on the lugs S, which a're'secured to the rings S to en a e with the inclines on the lugs Q carried by the frame Q,

and the frame will be carried upwardly, so. as to bring the upper edges of the flange Q againstthe lower edge of the hopper G. The

bevels on the ends of the finger I will engage.

with the corresponding recessed inclines D on the carrier D intermediate the rollers, and

IIO

the retainer will thus be locked securely to the compressing means, being positively carried therewith by the depending arm D of the carrier, which engages a lug Q on the retainer, as shown in Figs. 4; and 9. The plunger n continues its upward movement after the retainer is thus secured to the compression means until the upper surface of the bale base or support engages the feed-rollers F. The cotton or other material is fed into the hopper to the rollers F and is by the latter deposited upon the upper surface of the bale-base in superimposed continuous spiral layers or laps. As the material is fed into the bale-holder by the rollers the bale-base n gradually recedes until it reaches the bottom of the holder and is arrested by the flange S The bale having thus been completely formed in a highly-compressed state in the bale-holder, the cylinder-pressure is thereupon reduced, permitting the piston P to descend. In this movement it is carried out of engagement with the lever U and the weight of the connected parts will cause the block T to descend, bringing the rack T into position for engagement with the pinion S The engagement of the pinion S with the rack T will turn the ring S to carry the lug S out of engagement with the lug Q This will unlock the retainer from the compressing mechanism and the retainer will be held to the bale-holder by the-hooks R, the expansive force of the cotton or other material in the holder against the arms I causing the hooks to tightly clamp the flange Q. The baleholder, with the retainer clamped thereon, is then lowered until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 3, the plunger n and piston P being lowered out of contact with the balebase n. The treadle V is operated to release the catch V, and the crane M is then turned to swing the bale-holder, with the completed bale clamped therein, out of line with the compressing mechanism, the same movement carrying an empty bale-holder into position for the formation of another bale. The formed bale is then tied by suitable bale-ties, and thus permanently secured against expansion. The hooks R are released by lifting up the weighted ends of the bell-crank levers R the retainer is removed, the bale-holder is unlatched, the completed bale is removed, and the retainer is replaced in position. While this is being done, another bale is being formed, and the steps just described are repeated as each bale is completed, the operation of the press thus being continuous.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bale-forming press the combination of compressing devices, a bale holder or support, means for imparting movement to one of said elements relatively to the other to effect the compression, a retainer having baleengaging projections or arms, means for securing the retainer to the compressing devices during the formation of the bale and means for locking the retainer to the bale holder or support when the bale is formed and swung out of line with the compression devices.

2. In a bale-forming press the combination of compressing devices, a bale holder or support, means for rotating one of said elements relatively to the other, a retainer having baleengaging projections, means for engaging the retainer with the compressing devices during the formation of the bale and means for locking the retainer to the bale holder or support when the bale is formed to permit the bale to be moved away from the compressing devices without longitudinal expansion.

3. In a bale-forming press of the character described the combination with the compressing devices, a bale-holder having a base movable in the holder, means for opposing a yielding resistance to the movement of the base, means for efiecting a relative rotation of the compressing devices and the bale-holder, a retainer having bale-engaging projections, means for securing the retainer to the compressing devices during the formation of the bale and .means for locking the retainer to the bale-holder when the bale is formed to permit the bale to be moved away from the compressing devices without longitudinal expansion, substantially as set forth.

4. In a bale-forming press the combination of compressing devices, a bale'holder or support, means for rotating the compressing devices, a retainer having bale-engaging projections, means for engaging the retainer to rotate with the compressing devices during the formation of the bale and means for disengaging the retainer and compressing devices and locking the retainer to the bale holder or support when the bale is formed, substantially as set forth.

5. I In a bale-forming press the combination of compressing devices comprising a plurality of conical rollers, a bale holder or support, means for eifecting a relative rotation of the compressing devices and the bale holder or support, a retainer having bale-engaging arms, means for engaging the retainer with the compressing devices during the formation of the bale and means for disengaging the retainer from the compressing devices and looking it to the bale holder or support when the bale is formed, substantially as set forth.

6. In a bale-forming press the combination of compressing devices comprising a plurality of conical rollers, a bale holder or support, means for effecting a relative rotation of the compressing devices and the bale holder or support, a retainer having bale-engaging arms arranged to form stripping-fingers for the rollers, means for engaging the retainer with the compressing devices during the for mation of the bale, and means for disengaging the retainer from the compressing devices and looking it to the bale holder or support when the bale is formed, substantially as set forth. a

7. A bale-forming press having compressing devices, a bale-holder, means for effectin g a relative rotation thereof, arms arranged to form retaining-fingers for the bale in the bale-holder, means for detachably locking said arms to the bale-holder, and means for securing the arms to the compressing devices when detached from the bale-holder.

8. A press having a carrier, feed and pressure rollers journaled therein, a bale-holder,

arms arranged to form stripping-fingers for said rollers and to form retaining-fingers for the bale in the bale-holder, and means for securing said arms to the-carrier, as set forth.

9. A press having a carrier, feed and pressure rollers journaled therein, a bale-holder, arms arranged to form stripping-fingers for said rollers and to form retaining-fingers for the halo in the bale-holder, means for detachably engaging said arms to the carrier and means for disengaging said arms from the carrier and locking them to the bale-holder, substantially as set forth.

10. A press having a carrier, feed and pres sure rollers journaled therein, a bale-holder, arms arranged to form stripping-fingers for said feed and pressure rollers and to form retaining-fingers for the bale in the bale-holder, a retainingvring by which said arms are supported and which is exteriorly mounted on the head of the bale-holder, means for removably locking said ring thereto and means for securing said ring to said carrier, as set forth.

11. A press having'a revoluble carrier, feed and pressure rollers journ aled therein, a baleholder, a retainer having arms for holding the pressed material in the holder after the holder is filled, and means for locking said retainer to said carriage to revolve with the latter, said arms then extending between adjacent rollers to form stripping-fingers therefor, as set forth. 7

12. A press having a carrier, feed and pressure rollers journaled therein, a feed-hopper secured to said carrier and having projections which lie between the rollers, a retainer comprising a ring, arms extending therefrom and arranged to form retaining-fingers for the halo in thebale holder and stripping-fingers for said rollers, and an annular flange on said ring adapted to form a continuation of the lower end of the hopper, as set forth.

13. A press having a carrier, feed and pressure rollers journaled therein, a hopper secured to said carrier and having projections which lie between the rollers, a bale-holder,

a retainercomprising a ring and an annular flange extending from said ring to form a continuation of the lower end of said hopper and means for locking said retainer to said carrier, as set forth.

14. A press having a carrier, feed and pressure rollers journaled therein, a hopper secured to said carrier and having projections which lie between the rollers, a bale-holder, and a retainer having arms for holding the pressed material in the bale-holder after the holder is filled, means for locking the retainer to the carrier and a flange on said retainer for forming an extension of the h0pper,the flange having cut-out portions to fit the pe ripheral face of the rollers, as set forth.

15. A bale-holder having retaining-arms, a retaining-ring carrying the arms and mounted to turn on the bale-holder, a flange on said ring, hooks which engage the flange and have an extension resting against the side of the bale-holder and a weighted lever fulcrumed the retainer is lifted into position, as set forth.

17. A press having a carrier, feed and pressure rollers journaled therein, a bale-holder,

8o on said bale-holder and on which said hook a bale-base therein, pressure means for raising and lowering the bale-holder and balebase, a retainer on said bale-holder having bale-engaging arms, means for engaging said retainer with said carrier and means controlled by said pressure means for actuating said engaging means, as set forth.

18. A press having a carrier, feed and pressure rollers journaled therein, a bale-holder, a bale-base therein, pressure means for raising and lowering the bale-holder and balebase, a retainer on said bale-holder having bale-engaging arms, means for engaging said retainer with said carrier, means controlled by said pressure means for actuating said engaging means and means for centering said retainer on said carrier, asset forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES T. FULLER.

Witnesses:

THEo. G. HOSTER, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

